Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, January 17
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LeComte Stakes, Fair Grounds, Race #13
We’ve got Derby points on the line, with a fascinating field of eleven heading to the post on Saturday. I’ve got my eyes on #5 Golden Tempo here, who was awesome on debut for Cherie DeVaux. She’s got two in here and her go-to jockey, Jose Ortiz, chose to stay here on the less experienced runner. This will be Tempo’s first time around two turns, but he is bred to love the added distance and should get some pace to chase in this spot as well.
#8 White Tiger will be one of those horses who are providing that pace. He was a gate-to-wire winner last time out at Churchill in his first effort going two turns. He’s the speed of the speed here, and that alone makes him dangerous, especially when he’s trained by Brad Cox and Irad jumps aboard.
#7 Mesquite is the other DeVaux in here. He won last time out, but regressed slightly from a numbers perspective trying two turns. That foundation should prove beneficial here. I just wish this wasn’t the first effort off the bench.
#6 Thunder Buck got the worst of the trip last time and still prevailed over this course in December. He’s a likely horse to improve, and his last race was one of the more impressive runs on paper.
I want to give a shoutout to longshot #9 Ocelli who ran second to Thunder Buck last time out. At 12-1, this is one that can spice up the trifectas.
Top 4: 5-6-8-7
The Bets: $50 Win #5
Louisiana Stakes, Fair Grounds, Race #12
With a premium of speed here, let’s look to #5 Sir Greylind, who will be rolling from off the pace. I like the 5-1 price for this McPeek trainee who ran a career-best effort first time against stakes company over this track last time out. A repeat of that race likely gets his picture taken here.
#1 Moonlight is the other horse from off the pace that I have some interest in here. He’s got a win over this Fair Grounds course and fits stylistically. Jose Ortiz has had the magic touch with this one as well. In four rides, he has three wins and a third-place finish.
#8 Just a Touch is going to be the favorite in here. He’s a hard tryer for Brad Cox, but has yet to win a stakes race and really had no excuse last time out at Monmouth. While I do see him as the most likely winner, it is awfully tough to swallow another short price on this one after all the money he has burnt as a favorite.
#4 Accelerize is the wild card of this field. With just three races under his belt, he’s easily the least experienced of the bunch. Pletcher sees fit for him to step up here and Prat rides, both positive signs. I would be more apt to jump on the unknown here if style wasn’t speed. If he can rate, he’s dangerous. If not, he will be caught in a duel he cannot win.
Top 4: 5-1-8-4
The Bets: $50 Win #5
